BortoloMutti bids farewell to Palermo with a few sideswipes. “JosipIlicic disappointed me, while the club infrastructure was not up to the task.”

He was the third Coach of the campaign after Stefano Pioli and DevisMangia were sacked and helped salvage a dire season by finishing mid-table, but will not be confirmed on the bench.

“I am not a person who tries to talk himself up, but I doubt the poor results were entirely my responsibility,” noted Mutti.

“When I arrived the team had huge problems on their travels and many players who wanted to quit. If we had a few more points, the judgement on my work here would’ve been different. There were several mistakes this season and I hope they won’t happen again.”

The finger of blame is pointed squarely at President Maurizio Zamparini, who not only went through three Coaches this term, but also several different directors.

“Zamparini is a crucial figure for Palermo and someone you can work with if he wants to, but this year the club infrastructure was not up to the task for a place like Palermo. It requires greater organisation.

“It is good that we managed to launch young talents like Ezequiel Munoz, Franco Vazquez and Milan Milanovic, but Ilicic disappointed me in terms of his personality. I also expected more from Abel Hernandez.”

Defender Matias Silvestre did not help matters by declaring he wanted a step up in his career after just one season at the Barbera.

“His statements were inopportune, especially at this moment. He may want to improve his career, but in my view Palermo are a big club. I talked to him and he perhaps regrets making his intentions so clear in the media.”